Chapter 5

ALEJANDRA.

Today we are taking Zaire to college.

All ten of us—Dad, Mom, Dahlia and her husband Alex, Clay, obviously Zaire, Katherine, me, Legend and Amara.

We are taking five separate vehicles. Dad and Legend are driving his pickup truck with a lot of Zaire’s stuff in the back. Mom and Amara are taking the SUV with all the seats folded down and the back full of stuff. Dahlia and Alex are driving their small car. They’re not carrying anything, but Alex is going to help move stuff. Not like we need help, but Dahlia wanted to come. Zaire and Clay are taking Zaire’s car. Katherine and I are in the back of the caravan, driving the Jeep that we share. There is really no point in driving, but I just didn’t want to ride with anybody else, and Katherine thinks guys will talk to her if she’s driving because they’ll think she’s a college student. I don’t mind, as long as she drives.

Katherine and I are quiet on the drive. I think we’re both sad that we have to say goodbye to Zaire. Sure, he’ll probably be coming home every other weekend so Mom can do his laundry, but it won’t ever be the same again. He’s breaking up our fearsome threesome.

Since Zaire, Katherine, and I are all so close in age, we always do everything together. So much so that when we were little, you would never see one without the other two. Even now as teenagers, we’re tight. I knew it wouldn’t always be this way. Children grow up. I think of how many times a year I get to see my Aunt Vanessa, my mom’s sister. I only get to see her at either Thanksgiving or Christmas because she lives in Hawaii. Someday, that will be us.

“This sucks,” Katherine says, sighing.

“Yep.” I look forward, not wanting to see the sad expression on Katherine’s face. If she starts crying, so will I.

“Who do you think will cry more? Mom or Dahlia?”

I tap my finger on my chin, pretending to think.

“Dahlia,” Katherine and I say at the exact same time and then we laugh.

We aren’t usually the kind of twins who say the same thing at the same time, but when we do, it’s always a big deal. I guess we’ve always wanted to be those twins—the kind who look and talk identical. And I especially would’ve loved if she could have taken my math finals last year. Instead, we’re the kind of twins who look completely opposite and we don’t always know what each other is thinking.

Well… I suppose I can know what she’s thinking if I touch her, but I like to give her privacy. I never touch her bare skin on purpose.

When we pull onto campus, Katherine is suddenly very excited. She points to a group of guys who are tossing around a bunch of footballs and goofing off. I look to appease her but roll my eyes. I just don’t understand how she is so boy crazy, as Mom says.

Okay, maybe I understand a little now that I’ve met Forrest and Desmond. When I think of them, my heart goes crazy, but I try to keep them out of my mind.

Was it only last night that I met Desmond?

I wonder if I will see either of them again. The thought of not seeing them physically makes me feel sick to my stomach. I have to see them. They’re mine.

I’m annoyed at myself for thinking that Forrest and Desmond are “mine,” but there is also a rightness that I feel about it. I believe it, deep in my soul. I know it’s right.

That’s a thought for another day, though, because that is insane. My brain refuses to accept it.

We pull in front of Zaire’s dorm and get out. All the guys get to unloading the truck and Katherine starts talking to Dahlia and Mom about the guys she saw playing football, then proceeds to talk about how excited she is to go to school here. But not because it’s a great school—it’s because of the guys.

Katherine has never had problems getting a boyfriend or even a date. I think the longest she’s ever been single since she was thirteen has been three months, which ironically is the length of her longest relationship. Mom always says there’s nothing wrong with dating a lot, just like there is nothing wrong with “waiting for Prince Charming,” which she thinks is what I’m doing. Let’s be real, though—Prince Charming has nothing on Forrest and Desmond.

Dang it. I thought about them again. Can I not go five minutes without them invading my brain?

I’m a little on edge today, being out of Jacksonville. I kind of just want to get in the car and go back home. I want to look for…

Them.

I won’t think their names. Not again.

Once everything is unpacked and Zaire’s dorm is set up, we meet his roommate and parents. They seem nice. He plays football too, so I think Zaire will get along with him nicely.

After, we all head to a late lunch. It’s our final lunch with Zaire before we leave, and I’m a little sad. He sits between Katherine and me, and I don’t even mind when he grabs my hand under the table. I try to tune out his thoughts, but I literally can’t.

Zaire is nervous about school, which doesn’t surprise me. He’s acting cool, but that’s just how he is. He never lets anybody see him sweat. He’s also sad because he’s going to miss all of us. Zaire’s excited about his new chapter in life. But what he’s most excited for is next year, when Katherine and I join him. The fact that he’s already thinking of that warms my heart. I’m not just his annoying little sister. I’m his best friend.

When it’s time to say our goodbyes, as predicted, Dahlia cries first. Then Mom. I try to hold in my tears and be strong for Zaire because I know he’s upset about us leaving and seeing us cry would only hurt him more.

“I’m going to miss you,” I tell him, when he squeezes me tight against him.

“I’ll miss you more.”

He will. I know this because he’s thinking about how we all have each other. He’s the one being left alone here.

“I’ll come visit.” I pat his back and hug him tighter one last time. “You already know I’ll be coming to all the football games.”

“You better.”

Somehow, I manage to hold back my tears until I’m in the car.

I’m going to miss Zaire more than anything.

PUMA.

Who is this magnificent creature?

Phoenix and I watch from the shadows as a dark-haired girl walks through the front door of a home in Jacksonville. I wish I could get a better look at her before the door closes, but all I see is the back of black, wavy hair.

I immediately recognize her as my mate.

Mine, my wolf says, claiming her.

But that smell…

“What is she?” Phoenix asks, breaking the silence.

“I don’t know.”

“She’s my mate.”

My eyes widen as I look at him. “No, she’s my mate.”

I’m so focused on our conversation that I don’t hear the two shifters sneak up behind us.

“You guys too?”

I turn around and see Forrest and Desmond standing there.

“What do you mean too?” Phoenix asks, clenching his jaw.

Desmond motions toward Forrest and himself. “She’s our mate.”

“That’s… impossible,” I stutter.

“Apparently not.” Forrest tucks his hands into his pockets and stares at me, shoulders tight.

“What are we going to do?” I throw the question out there because this situation is unique. Shifters don’t share mates, especially not wolf shifters.

Everybody looks to Forrest for the answer. He is our alpha, at least he will be one day. But Forrest is at a complete loss for words. He just shakes his head and shrugs.

Phoenix curses as he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Alpha Romano keeps calling me. I know he’s wondering where we are.”

“We’re late for school again,” Desmond points out.

“I think he will understand, considering the circumstances.” Forrest runs his hand along his jaw, and a determined expression settles on his face.

“Have you talked to her?” I ask.

Forrest and Desmond both nod.

“She doesn’t know about shifters. I’m pretty sure she thinks we’re crazy,” Desmond says.

That’s not good.

“She doesn’t know she’s a supernatural?” Phoenix’s brows furrow, and his hand snakes around the base of his neck.

Somebody not knowing what they are is rare. Not as rare as having four shifter mates. No, that’s just… unheard of.

“What’s her name?” I ask, because I need to know.

“Alejandra,” Forrest answers.

Alejandra.

My wolf likes the name. He has already decided that she is his and there is no changing his mind. I can tell by the looks on the other’s faces that they feel the same way.

“We have to get her to school.” Desmond darts a glance at Forrest. “You know that’s where your dad will want her.”

“I know,” he says. “We will give her until tomorrow night.”

“How are we going to meet her?” My wolf and I are anxious to be near her.

“She’ll walk to the beach.” Desmond’s voice is full of confidence as he replies.

Tomorrow.

I get to meet my mate tomorrow.

My heart races, and my mouth feels dry. I’ve never had problems talking to a girl before, but for some reason the thought of talking to my mate for the first time is making me nervous. What if she doesn’t like me? Or what if she likes the other guys better? Will she even want me as her mate? Wolves never shun their mates, but she’s not a wolf. We don’t know what she is. So, what if she doesn’t want anything to do with me?

No. My wolf won’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen.

Tomorrow I will meet my mate for the first time, and I will make sure she falls in love with me.